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Former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw indicted, faces up to 65 years in prison

In November, former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw was arrested after a violent incident involving an ex-girlfriend. According to reports, Holdsclaw followed Jennifer Lacy (her ex and teammate with the Atlanta Dream in 2009) in her car, smashed windows in Lacy's car with a baseball bat, and even fired a gunshot into the car while Lacy was still inside. It was an awful, disturbing story involving a woman who was once the biggest name in her sport.

On Wednesday, Holdsclaw was indicted on charges related to this incident. From Rachel George for USA Today (via Deadspin):

Former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw was indicted on six counts by a Fulton (Ga.) County grand jury on Wednesday in relation to a November incident with her ex-girlfriend.

Holdsclaw, 35, faces two counts of aggravated assault, one count of criminal damage in the first degree, two counts of criminal damage in the second degree and one count of possession of a firearm in commission of a felony. [...]

"We're still working with the DA's office in Fulton County," Holdsclaw's attorney, Patrick Sullivan, told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday, adding that he could not comment further at this time.

According to TMZ.com, Holdsclaw could face up to 65 years in prison if found guilty on all six counts. Yet this story is far from over, and any legal analysis of the case would be very premature.

Nevertheless, things don't look good for Holdsclaw, who has suffered a major fall from grace after winning three titles at the University of Tennessee in the late '90s. Once discussed as an athlete who could bring women's basketball into the mainstream, Holdsclaw failed to show up for one of her games in 2004 and suddenly retired in 2007 despite impressive, if not landscape-altering, play. In an autobiography released last March, Holdsclaw revealed that she suffered from clinical depression and had even attempted suicide.

Her future is now considerably less clear. The case will play itself out in coming months, and this story will remain one to watch.

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